We are seasoned travelers and recently stayed at The Retreat at Silvies Valley Ranch. Unfortunately, our experience was one of the worst we’ve had — exorbitantly priced and not at all as advertised. We want to share our honest impressions so others can make informed choices. If you are remotely considering traveling to this very remote location please read this review. Background The Good • The property does offer a variety of multigenerational activities. • Staff members were kind and tried to be accommodating. The Not-So-Good • Prepayment & Cancellation: We were forced to prepay with no cancellation option. When we had to reschedule in 2023 due to their generators failing — and again later due to a family member’s cancer — our request to cancel was denied. We weren’t able to use our booking until September 2025. They were not accommodating at all in rescheduling due to serious illness and we had to make several phone calls to work this out. Meanwhile they have your money the entire time - full amount. • Billing Issues: The billing process was messy and confusing. Upon arrival, we were charged $565.80 for incidentals without explanation (typical hotels hold ~$100). Even staff struggled to explain or adjust the folio. • False Advertising (Goat Golf): Their marketing shows each golfer with a goat caddie. In reality, there was one goat for four golfers, and we had to share clubs. While the handler (Savanna) was wonderful, this was a major disappointment and the primary reason we booked. Our goat Mulligan was very cute. • Food & Beverage: • Social hour advertised as a charcuterie board turned out to be a small shared plate with strangers at the bar. • Drinks were $20 each, and dinner was subpar (bread, watered down soup, and an enchilada which we which most were left uneaten). • Arrival & RV Experience: • No instructions on where to park or check in. Arriving in our RVs, we had to walk nearly a mile down a dirt trail to the office. • RV park is poorly equipped: partial power, no individual dump stations, and even a porta-potty that appeared never serviced. • Activity Pricing: Prices are wildly inflated to put it mildly. • Sourdough class: $200 for 1 hour (a 4 hr NYC workshop costs $170). • Painting a birdhouse: $36 for a $7 Michael’s craft. • Welcome & Service: The overall welcome to the property was poorly handled, with little to no communication, no tour of the grounds or where anything was or how anything worked. * We tried to go to the gift shop and was closed Final Thoughts Between the false advertising, excessive pricing, poor infrastructure, and lackluster food, this was not worth the time, effort, or expense. Both parties in our group agree: we cannot recommend Silvies and will not be returning.

The Silvies Valley Ranch was absolutely beautiful with amazing accommodations, the most luxurious sheets and bedding and the nicest people. However, the cost of the activities did not match the experience. It was quite overpriced for what we received. If you go, make sure you check the prices AHEAD OF TIME of everything you sign up for so you won't be shocked at the end of your visit. It is a no cash/credit experience so you don't pay for anything until the end.

I had been looking forward to visiting Sylvie’s Lodge for years. The combination of golf, horseback riding, goat caddies, and the remote Eastern Oregon setting sounded like a unique adventure. We did have fun and the staff we interacted with were genuinely friendly, but unfortunately our stay was marked by a number of frustrations that could have been avoided with better communication and planning. One of the biggest surprises was discovering that the cabins we paid roughly $4,000 for over three nights did not have full kitchens. After spending time meal planning and prepping, we found there was only a microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, and coffee maker. This information would have been helpful to know upfront. We also drove our electric truck to the resort and had no way to charge it. Even though there is an unused RV park on the property with hookups, we were told we could not rent a space to charge our vehicle. After sitting for three days, we were genuinely concerned we might need a tow to reach the nearest charging station in Burns. The staff were welcoming and hardworking, but there seemed to be a general lack of coordination and communication. Many employees are seasonal workers who had only been there a few weeks, and it often felt like no one was quite sure what was happening from one activity to the next. The horseback ride was another disappointment. The horse I was assigned was not appropriate for the trail riding. Thankfully I have decent riding experience, but someone less experienced could have had a difficult or even dangerous ride. I ended up walking a portion of the trail because I didn't feel confident remaining mounted. The goat caddy experience was adorable and one of the highlights of the trip. However, we were surprised to learn that charges are assessed per person rather than per goat, which meant we essentially paid twice for the same goat companion. Other restrictions and closures added to the frustration. Guests are not allowed to bring their own alcohol or e-bikes. The spa, fitness center, and swimming pool were closed during our stay. Several of the advertised activities and adventures were also unavailable. As someone who has worked in guest services and hospitality, I think the biggest issue is that the experience being marketed doesn't always match the experience being delivered. Sylvie's Lodge is priced alongside luxury Oregon resorts like Brasada Ranch and Sunriver, but it currently lacks the consistency, amenities, and communication I would expect at that price point. I don't regret visiting, and I'm glad I finally got to experience it. The setting is beautiful, the concept is unique, and there is a lot of potential here. However, given the cost and the number of avoidable frustrations, I'm not sure I would return when there are other resorts offering similar amenities with fewer hassles and more transparency.

We recently spent three nights at Silvies Valley Ranch and left feeling very disappointed, especially considering the extremely high cost of the trip (nearly $8000 for 3 nights). One of the biggest issues was that the website leaves out important details that would have influenced our decision to stay there. For example, there are no EV charging stations on the property. We even offered to spend more money to rent an RV spot to charge our vehicle and were told no. The resort also seemed to nickel-and-dime guests at every opportunity. A single can of Coke at the clubhouse cost $5, and many activities came with unexpected charges. We were charged double for a single goat caddie, and overall the value simply did not match the price. Several advertised amenities were either unavailable or poorly maintained. The spa wasn’t open, we couldn’t use the pool, and there was a sign advertising wagon rides even though wagon rides were not actually being offered. If an activity isn’t available, the sign should simply be removed. The accommodations also fell short of expectations. Our cabin did not have a full-size refrigerator, and the pocket doors to the bathrooms were crooked and would not close properly. The hot tub was covered in scum and did not appear to be well maintained. There is also no oven or stove in the cabins, which forces guests to rely on the resort’s dining mediocre and overpriced options. They "stock" the mini fridge with all sorts of drinks that were not worth the price and I'm not spending $5 on a tiny bag of goldfish for my kids. Safety was another concern. During the horseback riding experience, my sister (a vet and a very experienced rider) was nearly bucked off a horse that had originally been assigned to my teenage daughter. Staff had been informed beforehand that my daughter had very limited riding experience, making the situation even more concerning as it could have ended very differently. The dining experience was also very disappointing. One buffet-style dinner was particularly poor, with meat so overcooked it was difficult to cut and chew. Meal prices were extremely high, with one dinner costing approximately $120 per person, plus an automatic 20% gratuity added for every guest. Given the lack of cooking facilities in the cabins, guests have little choice but to purchase these overpriced and mediocre meals. You are not allowed to bring your own alcohol either. Another frustration was the transportation policy. Guests are not allowed to ride their own bikes on the property, and vehicles cannot be parked in front of the cabins. Instead, you are required to use the resort’s golf carts to transport luggage and belongings across the property, requiring multiple trips. In total, our stay included a two-bedroom cabin, two meals for six people, four rounds of golf, and 1.5 hr horseback riding for four people. The total cost was nearly $8,000 for just three nights. With multiple "fees" for random things (one fee was nearly $150 a day called some sort of resort fee on top of the cabin rental cost). Like I said, nickel and diming you to death. No real manager anywhere and staff that had no clue what was going on, 2 of which told us they just started 2 or 3 weeks ago and were left in charge somehow. I emailed ahead of time about booking a few things and still haven't heard a thing. They set up itineraries for you with activities that you didn't even ask for which all cost extra of course with a 20% gratuity added on automatically. I’ve stayed at many golf resorts over the years, and while premium pricing can be justified by exceptional facilities and service, that was not our experience here. The golf courses and property was beautiful, but it was not enough to outweigh the many other issues. Other resorts I’ve visited offered top-notch service, better-maintained amenities, and FAR greater value. Unfortunately, this stay felt disorganized and amateurish, and the overall experience fell WELL short of expectations. This place has potential but needs some work to become a truly high class resort.

Overall, this is a beautiful spot with a lot of potential and we did enjoy our stay. The Craddock 18 hole golf course was great and the rooms were very nice overall. The food was good, the staff were professional, and did try to accommodate us. That said, there were a few items that are worth noting for future guests. One of the main reasons my husband booked (other than golf) was the horseback riding for me. We were not notified far enough ahead of time that riding would not be available (with exception to riding in a ring). I was then offered an alternate tour, but it ended up being fully booked by a large in-house group. The spa and hot tub were also closed so this was not an option. The goat caddy experience was unique, but very overpriced for a short par-3 course in average condition ($360 incl. gratuity). One thing to be aware of is that dining is in a family style, all together, long table setting with a preset meal each night. This was nice but a surprise to us and there were limited alternative options (non-meat eaters might take note). It may have just been the time of year we visited, but we’d recommend confirming activity and amenity availability, dining details, and overall pricing in advance as there are several surprise add ons. It’s still a unique destination though and the staff were terrific.